On this day January 22, 1955

aired for the first time on which became the first popular country music show on network TV. Hosted by Red Foley many acts including Patsy Cline, Eddy Arnold, Johnny Cash, Merle Travis, Slim Whitman, Cowboy Copas, George Jones, George Hamilton IV, Buck Owens, Jim Reeves and Faron Young all appeared on the show. Music executive Si Siman convinced Red Foley to host the show and the deal was set over a bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey at the Andrew Jackson Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
Source: This Day in Country